The communities most of us have lived in since birth have been good to us, but the time to bid adieu to the lovely suburban bubble that raised us is quickly drawing near.

Soon, we’ll know the real version of “tired” that’s always brought up when we want to nap.

And hopefully, we know what we’re getting into.

The most important thing to understand is what your end goal is.

Whether you’re going into the military, trade school, college or another route, every new step comes with some much needed preparation.

Consider this your pre-game or warm up for the next step of life.

I’m speaking from my present experience when I say, planning your life for the foreseeable future within a few months during your senior year is one of the most stressful things to do as a teenager.

And while most of us have absolutely no idea if what we’re applying for is what we’ll want come next fall, it’s still good to have that primary step out of the way.

But changing your mind is not always the end of the world.

According to an infographic from www.collegeatlas.org highlighting dropout rates, about 70 percent of the U.S. will attend a four year college or university.

However, only 67 percent will graduate as 30 percent of college freshman end up as dropouts after their first year.

Apparently, college isn’t for everyone. And what people plan out initially can change completely.
This is where my phrase of the month comes in: contingency plan.

No matter what has been prepped for, society will always throw in the variable that no one is ready for.

Asking for help and reading up on possible careers that peak your interest are great ways to keep your head above the surface. Writing down some of these thoughts to help with organization also wouldn’t hurt either.

You don’t need a dissertation or thesis paper, but it’s helpful to have something to look back on for memory’s sake.

Things to figure out include where the passion lies, transportation, the cost of food, livning arrangements and other necessities.

Of course, some of the accommodations will already be made depending on what route is taken.
Knowing the environments surrounding your choices is a key to making it anywhere.

Visit places before heading out there because walking into something that’s not easily navigated is not going to be fun.

In Homewood, Flossmoor, Hazel Crest and all of the other towns in our district, it’s been very black and white in terms of what will the next step be.

Everyone knows each other.

School years and rivalries are what separate the masses, but this is more of a practice run than the real deal.

The world outside of H-F, as seen from travel, television and other medias, is about as real as it gets.

Bills, insurance and taxes are about to rain down with a vengeance, so make sure all the necessary leg work is done.

Once the plans have been made, all that’s left for you to do is sit back, enjoy the rest of high school and watch the magic happen.